Leanne glad to be on the road back
Dropped striker wants second Hampden shot
LEANNE CRiChTON is thrilled the sWPL top flight is heading back into action after she was left pounding the pavements during lockdown.
The Glasgow City star was delighted at the Government go-ahead to return along with Leagues One and Two in the men’s game but she knows there are a few bumps in the way when it comes to testing and fixtures.
But former scotland ace Crichton is glad the first step has been taken and is gearing up to return to training.
The midfielder said: “There’s only so many road runs you can really enjoy. i’ve been out training in isolation.
“it’s tough out on your own. You miss the team dynamic, you miss that level of motivation that keeps you going.
“i’m really looking forward to getting back with the team.”
Crichton is hoping the return of the sWPL1 is just the start and the sport will resume down the levels.
she added: “Fingers crossed this is the last time we need to go through this.
“The long game now is, how quickly can we get other aspects of the sport back in all other different levels?”
GUY MELAMED is on a Scottish Cup quest to return to Hampden and bury the pain of missing out on a Betfred Cup start.
The St Johnstone striker was left on the bench for Sunday’s 1-0 triumph over Livingston – despite scoring a double against Motherwell in the previous game.
With the announcement that the Scottish Cup will be played to a finish on May 22, the Israeli has marked the date in his diary.
And he’s told team-mate Murray Davidson, who sat out Saints’ first League Cup success through injury, to do likewise.
He said: “There were mixed emotions at Hampden.
“Every player wants to play, especially when it is a final.
“But I respect the coach and I respected his decision to put me on the bench. There were no hard feelings. The main thing was we won the Cup.
“It was even harder for Murray. He was so unlucky because I heard he missed the last cup final as well. Maybe he will play in the final of the Scottish Cup. I hope so for him.
“It is good news about the Scottish Cup. We’ll have a tough match against Dundee. Hopefully we play our best football and go into the next round.”
Melamed scored the equaliser at Hamilton in Wednesday’s 1-1 stalemate but the result didn’t help Saints’ top-six hopes.
They host Hibs tomorrow and the 28-year-old added: “We wanted to give ourselves a bigger chance to get into the top six. We’ll keep fighting.”
WEIGHTING GAME
THEY are two of Scottish football’s wiliest characters, adept at getting the better of rival managers with shrewd tactical nous. With a year between them in age, John Hughes and Tommy Wright have much in common, not least their sabbaticals from the game. Tomorrow the pair will go head to head as Wright takes his Kilmarnock side north to face Ross County. Staggies boss Yogi doesn’t need any formation tips from his pal but he’d happily take diet advice after Wright’s nine months away from the top flight. Hughes, 56, said: “I’ve got a great respect for Tommy. The two of us have locked horns many times.
“It’s great to see him back in the game. He’s looking well – it must have been some diet. He better bring it for me as I’ve put a stone on. I need to get his secret!
“We know what we’re up against on Saturday. As managers, we’re all looking for something to give us that edge. “In the end, though, it is all down to the teams. All we can do is put our teams out on the pitch and hope the work on the training pitch comes to fruition. If it isn’t going your way, then it comes down to what you do as a manager to change it. “I really try to concentrate on watching how the game is going. I try not to get caught up in anything else. “My focus is on my team so if I have to change shape or make a substitution, I’m doing it for the best of my team. “Me going up against Tommy doesn’t come into it. It is two teams.” Hughes, now nearly 11 weeks in the job, has tried to carefully change the Staggies’ style to be defensively ruthless, albeit with mixed success. They have a knack of pulling off big results against the top four, only to squander points against lesser opponents. That trait will have to change if they are to survive in the Premiership given that seven of their remaining eight games are against teams outwith the top four.
The visit of Kilmarnock is arguably one of the biggest matches of the season due to the teams’ perilous perch just above bottom side Hamilton.
Hughes said: “Everyone is playing for their place in the team. They’re hungry. I’ve started chopping and changing – and they all know no place is safe. I can’t wait for Saturday.
“I have every belief and trust in my players. We are all in it together and I can feel that from them. We have the right characters at the club.”
One plus for County may be that they have become accustomed to bottom-of-the-table pressures given that is where they have been stuck for most of the campaign.
Killie, in contrast, have slipped steadily towards their alarming second-bottom berth.
Hughes added: “Are we more used to the pressure? I’ll answer that better after the game but it all depends where you are coming from.
“You need to embrace it. Bring it on. We don’t want to be down there but we have been there for so long.
“We know what we need to do to win matches. I believe we will pick up
the three points.”
to see It’s great the back in Tommy looking He’s game. must have well – it diet been some HUGHESISREADY JOHN TOFACEWRIGHT